Macbeth- Macbeth seems very selfish but a good leader. He is the main character of this novel, but he seems to be out of control and seems to make the story much more like a tragedy.
Witches- Witches represent darkness and evil in the novel. In Macbeth witches are the ones that starts out the story. When witches give the prophecies that Macbeth will be king, Macbeth gets selfish and gets the idea that he should kill Duncan. Which starts out the tragedy of the story.
Banquo- Banquo is a thane like Macbeth. He seems like a very greedy character. Witches tell Banquo that Macbeth will end up better than him, and that he himself won't succeed, however his son will succeed.
Ross- Ross is another thane and he is a messenger.
Major Plot
1. Meeting of Banquo and Macbeth
2. Sisters of witches tells Both and Banquo and Macbeth the prophecies.
3. Banquo seems to be affected by that fact that the prophecy says that Macbeth will be more successful than him.
4. Ross and Angus comes to give the title of Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth
5. Angus explains how the Thane of Cawdor was executed.
Conflicts
1. The biggest conflict starts out with the prophecies, which caused a competition over power between Banquo and Macbeth.
Act 1
ASSIGNMENT 2
1.5 & 1.6
1. Read Macbeth 1.5 and 1.6 and answer the following pages on your "Macbeth Reflection" wiki page
What do we learn about Lady Macbeth in these scenes?
In this scene we were introduced with the character Lady Macbeth, she is the wife of Macbeth, and she seems to very greedy in life. Even though her husband was awarded Thane of Cawdor, it wasn't good enough for her. After hearing the prophecy, see becomes very ravenous.“Thane of Cawdor;' by which title, / before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred / me to the coming on of time, with 'Hail, king that / shalt be!’” (Act 1 Scene 5 7-11)
How might Lady Macbeth answer the question “What is the meaning of life?” Explain your answer.
She is the type of person who would answer that the meaning of life is power and wealth. Obviously, you can see that Lady Macbeth is a very voracious person.
Identify and write out two of Lady Macbeth’s lines that are particularly striking. Explain why you selected the lines.
“That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full / Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood;” (Act 1 Scene 5 Lines 39-41) This lines illustrate Lady Macbeth's vileness. She is a hypocrite, she says that she would kill the king if she was a Man.
"Leave all the rest to me." (Act 1 Scene 5 Line 65)
This was striking because, Lady Macbeth seems to very natural in this situation.
Identify one significant word that Lady Macbeth uses in 1.5 or 1.6, and define both the denotation and connotation of the word. Explain why you think the word is significant.
The word is "Blood". The denotation meaning of this word is just a blood in general. The connotation meaning of this word is guilt and the death of the king.
ASSIGNMENT 3
1.7
Macbeth was generally convinced by Lady Macbeth. He decides to kill King Duncan for authority at the end of Act I. In section 1.7, it is basically about the conversation between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth to become the King. They are planning out how to take away the power, and let Macbeth be the King. At this moment, Macbeth is almost convinced by Lady Macbeth to commit the murder.
(Lines 42-45): Lady Macbeth becoming more and more aggressive as Macbeth acts like a coward.
(Line60): Macbeth is worried, and Lady Macbeth makes sure that he is not going to fail. She is going to make the servants drunk, and blame the servants later on. We can see that Lady Macbeth is a very evil character.
Why has Macbeth decided to kill King Duncan by the end of Act I?
Macbeth decided to murder King Duncan by the end of Act I, because he was convinced and pressured by Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth was being aggressive towards Macbeth in order to persuade him to commit the murder so that she could be the Queen.
Act 2
ASSIGNMENT 4
How does Macbeth react to the killing of Duncan? Why does he react this way?
Macbeth reacts to the killing of Duncan in a nervous way. He doesn't feel so confident about making a crime and he thinks he deserves to be punished once he kills the King. After he commits the crime, he doesn't know what to do and he regrets about what he has done. "Ill go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on't again I dare not." (Act 2 Scene 2 Lines 52-54)
How does Lady Macbeth react to the killing of Duncan? Why does she react this way?
Lady Macbeth is satisfied about his husband killing Duncan. She is proud of him and she doesn't feel guilty at all. However, she hears some noises at night and she becomes a little scared. Overall, she is glad for Macbeth to murder Duncan. "Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead Are but as pictures. 'Tis the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt" (Act 2 Scene 2 Lines 56-61)
Act 3
ASSIGNMENT 5
3.5 & 3.6
-Write a one sentence summary of each scene.
3.5- Hecate is the leader of the witches, and he is determined to punish Macbeth and the witches for their acts related to the prophecy.
3.6- Many characters in the play starts to respect and worship Macbeth not knowing what he has done.
-In 3.6, what suspicions does the Lord have about Macbeth?
The Lord thinks that Macbeth is crazy, because Macbeth acts insane. At the dinner feast, Macbeth suddenly feels sorrow for dead Duncan. Also, He starts to think that Macbeth is out of control to attack other nations, which Macduff is trying to closer to.
Act 4
4.1
What does Macbeth want in this scene?
Macbeth wants to kill Macduff and his family, because he is trying to be the King. Also, Macbeth wants to have some advice from the Witches and wants to talk to the apparition more than ones.
What stands in his way?
Macduff is standing in Macbeth's way. The witches told him that Macduff would be a threat to Macbeth someday.
How does Macbeth attempt overcome the obstacle in his way?
Macbeth attempt to overcome the obstacles in his way by false-believing in the prophecy that he will become the King. He is trying to stop the prophecy to come true and wants to become the King safely without any obstacles.
What do the Witches want in this scene?
Witches want to provoke Macbeth to do evil things. After Hecate told the witches to punish Macbeth, they are trying to fool Macbeth and make him do bad stuff. The witches are trying to lead Macbeth to the wrong direction so that he will fail by himself later on.
Act 5
ASSIGNMENT 6
How has Lady Macbeth transformed by the end of the play?
Lady Macbeth definitely transformed by the end of the play, because she used to be brave and confident. However throughout the novel, Lady Macbeth's personality became quiet, and nervous. Due to her greed and the feeling of guilt, she became insane later on. “Out, damned spot! Out, I
say!—One, two. Why, then, ’tis time to do ’t. Hell is murky!—Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account?—Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him," (Act 5 Scene 1 Lines 25-28) This quote illustrates how insane Lady Macbeth is. She is trying to wash off the blood from her hands when she is just seeing a fake vision. "Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of
Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, Oh, Oh!" (Act 5 Scene 1 Lines 34-36) This quote also symbolizes Lady Macbeth transforming by the end of the play. Despite the fact that she was greedy and cruel in the past, she starts to feel guilty about killing King Duncan and making crimes. She believes that her crime will never wash away, and she feels worried.
ASSIGNMENT 7
On your MR wiki page, answer the following questions. Provide at least one piece of textual evidence for each answer. (This assignment will provide some ideas for the final paper.)
• What is the main idea of the story?
• What can we learn from these characters? Select one or two characters and explain your answer.
• Do you see recurring images, words, deeds, situations, consequences, mistakes? Select two items from the preceding list and give examples from the play.
The main idea of this play is that power and greed can make people miserable. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth craved for becoming as the prophecy that the Witches told them. This was the starting point where they became unhappy. Most importantly, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth tried to control their future and their desire. From this, we can learn that one can not force their future, and if they do, they have to pay their wrongdoing and can not be happy for the rest of their lives.
Macbeth Reflection
- Identify one significant word that Lady Macbeth uses in 1.5 or 1.6, and define both the denotation and connotation of the word. Explain why you think the word is significant.
- The word is "Blood". The denotation meaning of this word is just a blood in general. The connotation meaning of this word is guilt and the death of the king.
-
- ASSIGNMENT 3
- 1.7
- Macbeth was generally convinced by Lady Macbeth. He decides to kill King Duncan for authority at the end of Act I. In section 1.7, it is basically about the conversation between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth to become the King. They are planning out how to take away the power, and let Macbeth be the King. At this moment, Macbeth is almost convinced by Lady Macbeth to commit the murder.
- (Lines 42-45): Lady Macbeth becoming more and more aggressive as Macbeth acts like a coward.
- (Line60): Macbeth is worried, and Lady Macbeth makes sure that he is not going to fail. She is going to make the servants drunk, and blame the servants later on. We can see that Lady Macbeth is a very evil character.
-
- Why has Macbeth decided to kill King Duncan by the end of Act I?
- Macbeth decided to murder King Duncan by the end of Act I, because he was convinced and pressured by Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth was being aggressive towards Macbeth in order to persuade him to commit the murder so that she could be the Queen.
-
- Act 2
- ASSIGNMENT 4
- How does Macbeth react to the killing of Duncan? Why does he react this way?
- Macbeth reacts to the killing of Duncan in a nervous way. He doesn't feel so confident about making a crime and he thinks he deserves to be punished once he kills the King. After he commits the crime, he doesn't know what to do and he regrets about what he has done. "Ill go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on't again I dare not." (Act 2 Scene 2 Lines 52-54)
- How does Lady Macbeth react to the killing of Duncan? Why does she react this way?
- Lady Macbeth is satisfied about his husband killing Duncan. She is proud of him and she doesn't feel guilty at all. However, she hears some noises at night and she becomes a little scared. Overall, she is glad for Macbeth to murder Duncan. "Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead Are but as pictures. 'Tis the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt" (Act 2 Scene 2 Lines 56-61)
-
- Act 3
- ASSIGNMENT 5
- 3.5 & 3.6
- -Write a one sentence summary of each scene.
- 3.5- Hecate is the leader of the witches, and he is determined to punish Macbeth and the witches for their acts related to the prophecy.
- 3.6- Many characters in the play starts to respect and worship Macbeth not knowing what he has done.
-
- -In 3.6, what suspicions does the Lord have about Macbeth?
- The Lord thinks that Macbeth is crazy, because Macbeth acts insane. At the dinner feast, Macbeth suddenly feels sorrow for dead Duncan. Also, He starts to think that Macbeth is out of control to attack other nations, which Macduff is trying to closer to.
-
- Act 4
- 4.1
- What does Macbeth want in this scene?
- Macbeth wants to kill Macduff and his family, because he is trying to be the King. Also, Macbeth wants to have some advice from the Witches and wants to talk to the apparition more than ones.
-
- What stands in his way?
- Macduff is standing in Macbeth's way. The witches told him that Macduff would be a threat to Macbeth someday.
-
- How does Macbeth attempt overcome the obstacle in his way?
- Macbeth attempt to overcome the obstacles in his way by false-believing in the prophecy that he will become the King. He is trying to stop the prophecy to come true and wants to become the King safely without any obstacles.
-
- What do the Witches want in this scene?
- Witches want to provoke Macbeth to do evil things. After Hecate told the witches to punish Macbeth, they are trying to fool Macbeth and make him do bad stuff. The witches are trying to lead Macbeth to the wrong direction so that he will fail by himself later on.
-
- Act 5
- ASSIGNMENT 6
- How has Lady Macbeth transformed by the end of the play?
- Lady Macbeth definitely transformed by the end of the play, because she used to be brave and confident. However throughout the novel, Lady Macbeth's personality became quiet, and nervous. Due to her greed and the feeling of guilt, she became insane later on. “Out, damned spot! Out, I
- say!—One, two. Why, then, ’tis time to do ’t. Hell is murky!—Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account?—Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him," (Act 5 Scene 1 Lines 25-28) This quote illustrates how insane Lady Macbeth is. She is trying to wash off the blood from her hands when she is just seeing a fake vision. "Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of
- Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, Oh, Oh!" (Act 5 Scene 1 Lines 34-36) This quote also symbolizes Lady Macbeth transforming by the end of the play. Despite the fact that she was greedy and cruel in the past, she starts to feel guilty about killing King Duncan and making crimes. She believes that her crime will never wash away, and she feels worried.
-
- ASSIGNMENT 7
- On your MR wiki page, answer the following questions. Provide at least one piece of textual evidence for each answer. (This assignment will provide some ideas for the final paper.)
- • What is the main idea of the story?
- • What can we learn from these characters? Select one or two characters and explain your answer.
- • Do you see recurring images, words, deeds, situations, consequences, mistakes? Select two items from the preceding list and give examples from the play.
-
- The main idea of this play is that power and greed can make people miserable. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth craved for becoming as the prophecy that the Witches told them. This was the starting point where they became unhappy. Most importantly, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth tried to control their future and their desire. From this, we can learn that one can not force their future, and if they do, they have to pay their wrongdoing and can not be happy for the rest of their lives.
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